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Australia Day

January 26th, 2006 at 12:56am

Today is Australia Day, as it was on this date in 1788 that the first fleet landed at Port Jackson (now Sydney Harbour).

Whilst this is a day of patriotism, ceremonies and celebrations, I do have to wonder about the logic of two things.

Why is the “Australia Day Live” concert held on January 25, the day before Australia Day?

Why is the Australian Of The Year announced the night before Australia Day?

Thankfully I managed to completely avoid the unusual noisefest which is “Australia Day Live”, and will continue to do so for as long as it keeps going.

I am glad though, that Professor Ian Frazer has been named Australian Of The Year for his work in developing a vaccine for cervical cancer.

Whilst I consider myself to be patriotic, I don’t really have a huge amount of interest in Australia Day or the related activities. Sure, it is nice to know that today marks the date when Australia was first settled, but it is mildly disturbing that it is also a celebration of the arrival of convicted criminals, the killing of people who already inhabited the country, and mass drunkeness on the part of the officials.

I love this country, I love its democratic principles and the “fair go” attitude, but I don’t think January 26, 1788 is the most prestigious day in our history. If it weren’t for New Years Day, I would suggest January 1 as our national day, as a celebration of federation, January 1, 1901.

I suppose the question now is, what will I be doing today? Well, I will be doing much the same as I do most days. Today is just another standard day for me, and I will take Nattie for a couple walks, possibly buy some groceries, and probably install Linux on a computer.

For some reason that reminds me that voting for the Australian Blog Awards ends shortly (although at least one website is reporting that voting has already closed), and the winners will be known soon. I will keep an eye on this and congratulate the winners. If I win an award I will be declining it. I do hope that none of you voted for me, as I have absolutely no desire to win those awards, and fail to see the importance of them.

Samuel

Entry Filed under: General News,Samuel's Editorials

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4 Comments

  • 1. Chuck Berry  |  January 26th, 2006 at 1:26 pm

    I will do my part and eat some lamb. Post office is closed. I have to go to work. So it just a normal day for me too. About time an Australian cricket captain was not named Australian of the Year. Just a pity Ja’mie, Phil, Ricky Wong, Pat or the Sims brothers did not win.

  • 2. Kooky_Pound_Puppy  |  January 26th, 2006 at 5:48 pm

    Why is the Australian Of The Year announced the night before Australia Day?

    I wondered this same thing apparently its because of the breakfast on the Australia Day …………………..

  • 3. heatseeker  |  January 27th, 2006 at 10:27 am

    Forget Australian of the Year … Samuel scooped the pool in the Blog Awards!

    http://www.spinstartshere.com/?q=node/1150#comment

    Sammy, any chance of limited edition commemorative skivvies in different colours for each day of the week? I’d buy the whole set!

  • 4. Tony  |  February 8th, 2006 at 4:00 pm

    Speaking of Australia day Sam, I think we need a better National Anthem, I think the words to Advance Australia Fair sound too wussy, no wonder no one wants to sing it let alone remember the words.
    how does this sound:
    Australians let us all thank god, that we are on the map.
    We’ve come a long way form British rule and take a lot of crap.
    We know a good thing when we see, our sheila’s are A one.
    The sun’s a killer, cover up, skin cancer is no fun.
    Let others envy in their jocks this country really rocks.
    Let others envy in their jocks This Country Really Rocks.


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